Many tributes are being paid to legend Steven Spurrier (1941-2021), as his contributions to the wine world have been vast. In appreciation of Steven Spurrier’s life and work, it felt it fitting to sip a glass of Bride Valley. Spurrier is arguably best known for his historic 1976 blind wine tasting the “Judgement of Paris,” however, one of his most lasting achievements is his English sparkling wine estate, Bride Valley, in Dorset, which delivered its first commercial harvest in 2011. Spurrier’s Bride Valley has helped raise English sparkling wine from obscurity to the top of wine lists. The 2014 Blanc de Blanc is elegantly dry and balanced with notes of lemon zest, pear, lychee, honeysuckle, and hints of brioche. The palate rounds everything out with a subtle yeasty creaminess that boosts the lemon zest flavor. Irresistible now with enticing acidity on the long finish.
Bride Valley Vineyard, Dorset (England) 2014
By Miranda Franco